On an Inequality Related to a Certain Fourier Cosine Series

Abstract

We prove that the Fourier cosine series $\sum_{k=1}^{\infty}(-1)^{k+1}\frac{r^k\cos{k\phi}}{k+2}$ assumes its maximum value at $\phi = 0$ for $\phi \in [0, \pi)$ regardless of $r$ if $r \in (0, 1]$. This was first proved by Arias de Reyna and van de Lune. The more compact proof presented here is based on a generating function of the Chebyshev Polynomials.